VCR functions do not work (play, record, ...)

If you are trying to play older VHS tapes, you may have to run them through some fast forward-rewind cycles to condition them and relieve stress

look to see if tape will fully load and if FF or REWIND work, if not a transport problem, drive mechanism not moving the tape, unit will sense this and shut unit off----even a problem in the loading mechanism for the VHS tape not loading the tape all the way will do the same thing.

Have someone look inside---if tape is not loading all the way against the video heads or tape does not move in play-rewind-FF then there is a problem with the transport mechanism which is what performs these functions.

There should be a rewind button on the front of the main unit (usually indicated by either REW or 2 arrows pointing to the left), this should be next to the fast forward (again indicated by either F-FWD or 2 arrows pointing to the right) as well as PLAY and STOP - for the VCR. The only thing you would need the remote for is to set the clock and/or perform setup for the DVD player as well as timer recording. Try a universal remote which will make fast forward, play, stop, record (to VHS) and rewind easier.

The problem is caused by the idler assembly which controls play, record, rewind, and fast forward. If the take up reel stops, the vcr senses a problem and will stop the tape. The only other thing it can be is the drive belt, sometimes it will stretch and fall off or break. I suggest a tv technician or somebody that knows their way around a machine.

try forwarding the tape to the end and then rewind to the start again, this can help to seat the tape correctly on the spindle . the audio track part of the tape is in a specific region on the tape so misalignment may be the issue with those cassettes.

also try to press the tracking up and down when playing the video

what I would do is play the vhs tape for a bit then rewind and press the dub botton only and see what happens. if nada then insert a new blank dvd and make sure its formated.

Hey do the tapes play at all? sometimes some tapes recorded
on other machines won't play on others. maybe you need to adjust the tracking on the VCR you are playing it on. If the tape
was recorded on a VCR that is misaligned it might not play back
on another VCR. Also the tape may have been recorded on a
super VHS VCR in et (extended definition) mode if so they won't play on just any VCR. If the picture looks scrambled like a
premium channel on analog cable then it's probably recorded in et.
and if its recorded on super VHS tape it may eject out of your VCR.
They don't make these S-VHS vcrs anymore but people still
have them around. There is also Digital VHS they're not
compatible with VHS either. A VHS recorded in et mode will
play on some more expensive vcrs it should say so on the box
or instructions.

Soution #1 get nice but cheep VHS " rewind " macine.
2nd. Some machines have a special rubber wheel in the center,between the left [ take up or rewind ] & right [ play\record ] assemble. VERY diffiult to repair if u don't know what u are doing.
3rd. Find & REplace EVERY rubber band that u find in the machine.

depending on th einternal design of the vcr. look for the loading/unloading mech, by finding the blak rubber belt that is looped from the motor to a pully. now turn it one way. it may thak 25 to 50 complete rotations of the belt. try turning both ways, one will load & 1 will unlaod. good luck.